Joe Biden's first 15 executive orders

In the first few hours of his administration, new US president Joe Biden signed no less than 15 executive orders, most of them reversing out some of the dafter things Donald Trump brought in. And they certainly give a good indication of where this presidency is headed:

• Masks and social distancing to be required on all federal properties by federal workers.
• An "ethics pledge" will be required for all executive branch personnel.
• The USA will rejoin the Paris Agreement on climate change.
• The USA will rejoin the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Construction of the wall along the USA/Mexico border will cease, and the national emergency on illegal immigration from Mexico will end.
• Trump's ban on travel from predominantly Muslim countries will end.
• The permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the USA will be cancelled, and permits for oil and gas drilling in protected national wildlife areas will be revoked.
• The pause on student loan repayments will be extended.
• The pause on the nationwide restrictions on evictions and foreclosures will also be extended.
• Every federal agency is to review the state of its racial equity, and deliver an action plan to address any disparities in policies and programs.
• The 1776 Commission (Trump's response to the New York Times' prize-winning 1619 Project on America's history of slavery) is to be rescinded.
• Trump's order to exclude non-citizens from the census will be revoked.
• Workplace discrimination in the federal government based on sexual orientation or gender identity will be prohibited.
• A COVID-19 response coordinator, reporting directly to the president, will be appointed.
• Trump's Interior Enforcement Executive Order, which broadened the categories of undocumented immigrants subject to removal and expanded the federal deportation program, will be revoked, and a path to citizenship for "Dreamers" will be created. 

A whole load more directives and executive orders are planned for the coming days, but - wow! - what a breath of fresh air this is, after 4 years of holding our collective breaths.